The Paul Lambert thread - poll reset after our capitulation to Hull

[Ron Manager]

I would agree. Amazed Clark has not been sat in front of the back 4 as a holding mid

Absolutely 100% right.  I have suggested this about five times this season. That is Clark's correct position.

[tomd2103]

I would agree. Amazed Clark has not been sat in front of the back 4 as a holding mid

Absolutely 100% right.  I have suggested this about five times this season. That is Clark's correct position.

Not so sure myself.  I remember him being employed in a midfield role under McLeish and all he did was play short passes backwards and sideways.  I agree it would be worth trying it, but you ideally want a sitting midfielder to have a wide range of passing. 

[N'ZMAV]

A lot of people moaned when Clark played Midfield before....

[Monty]

I would agree. Amazed Clark has not been sat in front of the back 4 as a holding mid

Absolutely 100% right.  I have suggested this about five times this season. That is Clark's correct position.

Not so sure myself.  I remember him being employed in a midfield role under McLeish and all he did was play short passes backwards and sideways.  I agree it would be worth trying it, but you ideally want a sitting midfielder to have a wide range of passing. 

My thoughts exactly Tom.

[ozzjim]

Do you? Ideally yes but for us simply shielding the back 4 and tracking midfielders running beyond he would do fine.

[Monty]

I've always thought that, if you're going to have an out-and-out sitting midfielder then he should be good at starting counter-attacks, like Barry or Petrov. Clark's fine on the ball, but this has never struck me as a particular strength of his.

[pauliewalnuts]

Clark always struck me as better in midfield than defence, but I am not sure that's saying much.

A week or so after Lambert got the job, he did a WM forum, at which he said to Paul "Call Me Franksy" Franks that Clark was "no midfielder" and laughed it off.

That may be the case, but it looks increasingly like he's no defender, either.

[Chris Smith]

I've always thought that, if you're going to have an out-and-out sitting midfielder then he should be good at starting counter-attacks, like Barry or Petrov. Clark's fine on the ball, but this has never struck me as a particular strength of his.

I agree, Monty, centre halves always seem to lack the mobility to play anywhere else.

[Monty]

I disagree, I actually think he's much more of a defender than Baker. Baker does all the things which look like defending but aren't, like last ditch tackles and fouling, whereas Clark at his best is very good at being in the way. He's played very poorly at times this season, but honestly, Baker has a game-losing mistake in him every week.

[Monty]

I've always thought that, if you're going to have an out-and-out sitting midfielder then he should be good at starting counter-attacks, like Barry or Petrov. Clark's fine on the ball, but this has never struck me as a particular strength of his.

I agree, Monty, centre halves always seem to lack the mobility to play anywhere else.

There are rare exceptions - I'd have Pique in our midfield every day of the week, for instance - but by and large I think you're right, that even the most elastic and dynamic centre-half tends to look clumsy and slow when pushed forward.

[ozzjim]

Clark the is not built like a centre half though.

[Monty]

That's what people said about Cannavaro though. Not that Clark will be as good, or anywhere near as good, or anywhere near that even, but he still has the reading of the game and the physical courage to succeed, I think.

[Chris Smith]

That's what people said about Cannavaro though. Not that Clark will be as good, or anywhere near as good, or anywhere near that even, but he still has the reading of the game and the physical courage to succeed, I think.

Closer to home, Gareth Southgate was hardly a brick shithouse either.

[Monty]

That's what people said about Cannavaro though. Not that Clark will be as good, or anywhere near as good, or anywhere near that even, but he still has the reading of the game and the physical courage to succeed, I think.

Closer to home, Gareth Southgate was hardly a brick shithouse either.

Indeed. I don't remember Gary Cahill looking too similar to a bodybuilder, whereas Zat Knight is a total powerhouse. It takes all sorts I think.

[ozzjim]

I agree but then Southgate and say Barry were comfortable in midfield which i still think Clark could be